Compact optics for concentration and illumination systems

Abstract

An optical concentrator having a concentrating element for collecting input light, a redirecting element for receiving the light and also for redirecting the light, and a waveguide including a plurality of incremental portions enabling collection and concentration of the light onto a receiver. Other systems replace the receiver by a light source so the optics can provide illumination.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and the optical concentrator further including: 
 a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation; 
 secondary optical elements coupled to the stepped waveguide that redirect the light from the waveguide towards a light receiver; and 
 a light receiver for receiving the light from the stepped waveguide. 
 
     
     
       2. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the stepped waveguide includes upper and lower surfaces that are substantially parallel. 
     
     
       3. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the stepped waveguide includes a substantially uniform thickness along its length. 
     
     
       4. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the stepped waveguide includes a surface selected from the group of a flat facet, a curved surface, and a tailored shape. 
     
     
       5. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the stepped waveguide includes light entry elements that are associated with the associated redirecting elements, the light entry elements being physically discontinuously disposed from the body of the stepped waveguide, thereby enabling assembly of the stepped waveguide in separate parts. 
     
     
       6. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the concentrating elements are optically coupled to the top surface of the waveguide. 
     
     
       7. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the redirecting elements are optically coupled to the top surface of the waveguide. 
     
     
       8. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the optical elements are positioned structurally to insert the light into the stepped waveguide such that light is propagated bi-directionally within the stepped waveguide. 
     
     
       9. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the concentrating elements are made by patterning optical elements in a glass sheet. 
     
     
       10. The optical concentrator as defined in  claim 1  where the associated redirecting element is optically coupled with and physically separate from the concentrating element. 
     
     
       11. A optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) a redirecting element comprised of 1) a first redirecting element portion receiving the repositioned light from the concentrating element and refracting the light onto a second redirecting element, and 2) a second redirecting element receiving the light from the first redirecting element and repositioning the light via reflection; wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and the optical concentrator further including: 
 a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation. 
 
     
     
       12. An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a refracting concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light, from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the optical elements; and the optical concentrator further including: 
 a waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the waveguide for accumulation, the redirecting element being an integral part of the waveguide, the waveguide having top and bottom surfaces that are substantially parallel, the waveguide having a substantially uniform thickness along its length, and the optical elements are positioned structurally to insert the light into the waveguide such that light is propagated multi-directionally within the waveguide. 
 
     
     
       13. An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction, and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements 
 the optical concentrator further including a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation; the above elements being constructed in a cross-section, the cross-section then being extruded to form the optical concentrator. 
 
     
     
       14. An optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light, wherein the light is repositioned along one axis of the concentrating element; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element, wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction, and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements 
 the optical concentrator further including a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation. 
 
     
     
       15. A optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and the optical concentrator further including: 
 a waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the waveguide for accumulation; and 
 a positioning element which maintains geometrical relationships between the plurality of optical elements and the waveguide in the horizontal, vertical, and rotational planes. 
 
     
     
       16. The optical concentrator defined in  claim 15  where the positioning element is an integral part of the waveguide. 
     
     
       17. The optical concentrator defined in  claim 15  where the positioning element is a separate element from the waveguide. 
     
     
       18. A optical concentrator, comprising:
 a plurality of optical elements disposed adjacent each other with each of the plurality of optical elements including: 
 a) a concentrating element for collecting and repositioning light; and 
 b) an associated redirecting element which is associated with and separate from the concentrating element for receiving light from the concentrating element wherein the concentrating element of each of the plurality of optical elements is separated from at least one portion of the associated redirecting element by a layer within which the light does not undergo a repositioning change of direction and the layer being contiguous between at least a portion of each of the associated redirecting elements; and the optical concentrator further including: 
 a stepped waveguide for receiving the light from the at least one portion of the associated redirecting element which is constructed to reposition the light into the stepped waveguide for accumulation, the stepped waveguide aggregating the light from the plurality of optical elements and propagating the light towards the light receiver; 
 transverse optical elements coupled to the stepped waveguide that redirect the light in the transverse direction to the direction of propagation of light within the waveguide; 
 secondary optical elements coupled to the stepped waveguide that redirect the light from the waveguide and the transverse optical elements towards a light receiver; and 
 a light receiver for receiving the light from the stepped waveguide.